Wood: Difference between revisions

From Freegle Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
A lot of people offer scrap wood for burning.  It is not illegal to offer this, but some caution should be used by the person receiving the wood.
A lot of people offer scrap wood for burning.  It is not illegal to offer this, but some caution should be used by the person receiving the wood.


A good explanation and article about pallets and reuse is https://www.1001pallets.com/pallet-safety/


Treated Timber as Firewood:
A particular issue that does cause concern is that some treated timber contains CCA (chromated copper arsenate) and should not be burnt as firewood. CCA is a wood preservative that has been used for timber treatment since the mid 1930's. As the name suggests it is a mixture of chromium, copper and arsenic, it imparts a greenish tint to the timber. It is highly effective as wood preservative, often used as a substitute for creosote. It protects against fungal decay, wood eating insects and affords a good degree of weather-resistance. But when burnt, toxic arsenic is released into the atmosphere and the ash from burnt CCA treated timber can contain up to 10 per cent (by weight) arsenic, chromium and copper. Swallowing only a few grams of this ash can be harmful. Symptoms can include nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhoea, and pins and needles feeling in the skin. Common advice is to never burn CCA treated timber as firewood in fireplaces, barbecues, wood stoves or any wood fire.


A lot of treated timber contains CCA (chromated copper arsenate) and should not be burnt as firewood. CCA is a wood preservative that has been used for timber treatment since the mid 1930's. As the name suggests it is a mixture of chromium, copper and arsenic, it imparts a greenish tint to the timber. It is highly effective as wood preservative, often used as a substitute for creosote. It protects against fungal decay, wood eating insects and affords a good degree of weather-resistance. But when burnt, toxic arsenic is released into the atmosphere and the ash from burnt CCA treated timber can contain up to 10 per cent (by weight) arsenic, chromium and copper. Swallowing only a few grams of this ash can be harmful. Symptoms can include nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhoea, and pins and needles feeling in the skin. Common advice is to never burn CCA treated timber as firewood in fireplaces, barbecues, wood stoves or any wood fire.
The article quoted above explains in detail, however, the various treatments that are safe for reusing pallet wood or for using as firewood.





Revision as of 09:01, 31 October 2017

A lot of people offer scrap wood for burning. It is not illegal to offer this, but some caution should be used by the person receiving the wood.

A good explanation and article about pallets and reuse is https://www.1001pallets.com/pallet-safety/

A particular issue that does cause concern is that some treated timber contains CCA (chromated copper arsenate) and should not be burnt as firewood. CCA is a wood preservative that has been used for timber treatment since the mid 1930's. As the name suggests it is a mixture of chromium, copper and arsenic, it imparts a greenish tint to the timber. It is highly effective as wood preservative, often used as a substitute for creosote. It protects against fungal decay, wood eating insects and affords a good degree of weather-resistance. But when burnt, toxic arsenic is released into the atmosphere and the ash from burnt CCA treated timber can contain up to 10 per cent (by weight) arsenic, chromium and copper. Swallowing only a few grams of this ash can be harmful. Symptoms can include nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhoea, and pins and needles feeling in the skin. Common advice is to never burn CCA treated timber as firewood in fireplaces, barbecues, wood stoves or any wood fire.

The article quoted above explains in detail, however, the various treatments that are safe for reusing pallet wood or for using as firewood.


Back to Specific Items